This issue reads like an old school issue of Claremont’s. By that, I mean, there is at least 100 words per page, or at least, that is how it feels at times. Which is nice, that it took me a minutes to read and then I reread it a couple of times. This issue feels like the middle of the story, where we resolve what came before and build to where we are going to end. Which makes sense that it is the third part of five.

We find the Sheriff at the Cooks’ Compound. We get a glimpse of who these people are, imagine super creepy hippies, who are using mutants to make their drugs.

Meanwhile, back in town, the giant Sentinels are attacking the section of town where Kitty, Rogue and Wolverine are at. Darla is freaking out, as her powers have never been shown at this level. Wolverine is slowly losing his mind. We get the impression that Krystal may be playing a bigger role in the madness.

Wolverine keeps getting haunted by the green mutant who took a bullet to the eye. Rogue mentions later that these are no longer Darla’s memories but now Wolverine’s memories of her memories. Which I sort of dig this take on Darla’s powers. So now that it is Wolverine’s memories, that means these new memories that are being acted out, are now informed by his impressions. Darla is a very interesting character with a power that still has me thinking about it.

Wolverine charges at Darla, as he knows that the Sentinels are only attacking due to the X-Men’s memories of Sentinels. Rogue throws a Sentinel head at him, to stop him.

Kitty takes Krystal away from the epicenter.

My one problem with this issue, is that one of the charms of last issue was the villains were from X-Men lore. This issue, it seems we are given generic demons and cyborgs. I imagine that Revel got all of the characters he wanted to draw out of his system, and now he is telling the story that he wants to.

Darla takes off, and Wolverine chases her.

Mr. Cook explains the mutant killing / making drugs out of them enterprise.

Wolverine catches up to Darla. She sends all of these cyborg soldiers after him. That is an interesting use of her powers, she can take villains from your memory, then control them to attack you. Though now that I write that, if she pulls villains from your memory, then are they not attacking you only because that is what they originally did? Am I the only one thinking about Darla? Besides Revel, I mean.

Kitty begins to encounter the Juggernaut. I may have been to quick to state Revel was done drawing known characters. I really like his take on Juggernaut. Also, call back to X3.

Kitty and Krystal begin being chased by the motorcycle gang from the first issue. Krystal starts being haunted by visions of her uncle, the sheriff.

Cook has injected so much mutant DNA that he has grown a third eye on his forehead. The third eye gives him future vision. Also, he straight up shoots Sheriff Jasper at close range.

Rogue finally meets up with Darla. Poor Darla has been cutting herself to try to shut down her powers. Rogue tries to comfort Darla. Wolverine slashes Rogue’s back with his claws. I don’t see blood, but still, that has to hurt.

Wolverine notices that Rogue and Darla have things in common. Both ladies are bad seeds. Then Wolverine starts to really get out of hand. He starts calling Rogue a thief and a villain. Even her powers make her a literal theif, her original power. Her super strength comes from her villain era, when she stole Carol Danvers’ powers. Wolverine is the worst, and poor Rogue’s feelings are hurt.

Remembering her villain era, we see Mystique, Destiny, Pyro and Blob. Blob is behind Wolverine, and forces his face into the wall. There is a great exchange of Wolverine stating the writing is on the wall, with Rogue cleverly retorts that it isn’t writing but his own blood. I like Rogue in this mini thus far.

We haven’t gotten a Rogue and Wolverine fight since X-Men 103, when they fought for leadership. It was friendly and Wolverine also didn’t want it. It was nowhere as good as the Storm and Cyclops duel in Uncanny X-Men 201.

Issue ends with Kitty and Krystal in a car. The memory of the sheriff grabs Kitty, she remembers she can phase and does so. She passes out, as the biker gang surrounds Kitty.

What will happen!?!

. . .

My new Top Ten is for 2014 is :

1. All New X-Men 22

2. X-Men Legacy 22

3. Uncanny X-Men 16

4. Marvel Knights X-Men 3

5. Savage Wolverine 13

6. All New X-Men 21

7. Wolverine 13

8. Cataclysm 3

Two more to have a full list! Slated to get Cataclysm 4 and Guardians of the Galaxy 11, Uncanny Avengers 16 (if Magik or Kitty show up) same as X-Men Legacy 23, if Magik shows up.